More detail on this person: Donald Edward Stewart Merritt, Sr., of Owensville, passed away Mon., Aug. 5, 2024 at his residence in Owensville. Donald was born July 2, 1936, to Crystal Esther Stewart in Little Rock, Ark. Donald was blessed with two fathers. His biological father, Cecil Cruz, and the father who raised him, Edgar Harold Merritt. He was united in marriage to Karen Rose Banks on March 7, 1970, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Donald was a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United State Armed Forces. He was a member of the American Legion of Rosebud, VFW Post 6133 in Owensville, and a member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Southern Missouri Chapter. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rosebud. He was preceded in death by his fathers, Cecil Crews and Edgar Merritt; mother, Crystal Merritt, son, Donald Edward Stewart Merritt, Jr., sister, Sarah Maxine (Merritt) Leonard, and brother, Cecil Crews, Jr. His survivors include his wife, Karen Banks Merritt of the home; daughters, Linda Elaine (Merritt) of Swiss, Cynthia (Merritt) Moloney and husband Michael of Owensville, and Cheryl Ann (Merritt) Turner and husband Scott of Swiss; siblings, Edgar Harold Merritt, Jr. of Paso Robles, Calif., John Crews of Metamora, Mich., and Jean (Crews) Ryan of Metamora, Mich.; nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Thurs., Aug. 8, 4 to 8 p.m., at Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville. Funeral services will be Fri., Aug. 9, at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rosebud with Rev. Paul Landgraf officiating. Burial will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Rosebud. He will be buried with full military honors.
Burial information: Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Rosebud
This information was last updated 11/04/2024
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
Copyright © 1998 - 2025 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association